I have been running the Classic Movies Web site since 1997, first with About.com and then (as of March 2004) on Classicmovies.org. Over that time I have helped hundreds of people find movies that they had been wanting to see for years, sometimes decades. In many cases, they didn't even know the title of the film! In most cases, I was able to help them or to direct them to other resources on the Web. (Sometimes I wasn't, of course.)
But over time, this site has become more and more popular and turned into my primary occupation. As a result, I have had less and less time to devote to the business of searching for movies on video and DVD because, in most cases, it was a freebie, done as a public service. However, that has now changed.
Announcing our NEW Your Movie Finder service, designed to help individuals locate classic Hollywood films (foreign films are not really our specialty) that they have not been able to find on DVD or video! For a small yearly fee of $14.95 (covering up to 12 searches per year, one movie per search), we will try to find those movies for you and put you in touch with the seller. (There are no guarantees, of course; some films are simply lost.) In most cases, you will receive copies (NOT originals), in good viewing condition (unless the seller specifies otherwise in advance), with the entire movie included, but with no original artwork or packaging. If you are not satisfied with the quality, you may request a refund of your purchase price. All items must be paid for in advance.
As an alternative, you can pay for a single search for only $4.95. However, getting 11 more searches for only $10 more works out to less than $1 per search, a very good value.
If a movie you are looking for is currently "in print," in original packaging from one of our standard sources (either new or used), we will simply provide you with a link through which you can purchase the item (we receive a small commission, which does not increase your purchase price). But we assume that most people who use our service will have already checked those sources. If not, we will be happy to act as a "shopper" service for you, for a fee. For more information, be sure to read the FAQs below.
Here are a few unsolicited testimonials!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you tell me if the movie is available and much it will cost before I join your service? What about refunds?
Most VHS or DVD dubs will cost between $10 and $50, assuming you're not looking for a collectible item (that is, the original release in color packaging). But we can't actually do the search for a movie and give you a firm price until the search fee is paid, since the search we conduct for the movie is the only thing we are selling. The price you will pay for the video or DVD goes entirely to the seller. In most cases, search fees are not refundable if the movie is not found, since the work of searching has to be done before we can tell you whether or not a movie is available. In some cases, if the movie or movies you are looking for are listed on Free Movies on DVD, your fee will be credited toward a purchase, since that is also our site.
Do you search for old TV shows or TV movies?
We will certainly try, but in most cases, the original programming, especially from the 40s and 50s, is lost forever. TV-movies, especially from the 60s and y0s, before commercial DVDs, is also a major problem, and we cannot guarantee that anybody has copies of them. Programs produced outside the United States and never released on video or DVD are particuarly difficult to find. On the other hand, certain very popular programs, such as I Love Lucy, are readily available commercially.
What about collectibles?
If you are looking for a collectible, original release (as opposed to a VHS dub or digital copy), we can try to search for that, as well, but of course the prices of collectible items are usually much higher, and they often are available only on auction sites, as the owners are hoping for the highest possible price. We cannot guarantee that we can find any collectible items, or that the price will be in your affordable range.
Will you broker trades if I give you my want list?
We are willing to try, as long as your want list is not made up entirely of "lost" films, or silents, and as long as you are willing to accept copies (as opposed to original collectible releases). However, there may still be a fee involved, and we cannot guarantee that anybody will have what you want and be willing to trade for what you have. Only collectors with large collections of classic films should consider this option.
What if I don't know the name of the movie?
That makes it a little tougher, but if you can tell us about the plot, the year it was made, when you saw it, one or more of the stars, whether it was in color or black & white, etc., we might be able to identify it.
Do you do business on Ebay?
We do not use Ebay or other auction services, since we simply don't have the time or funds to get involved in bidding. In addition, until Ebay commits to policing its sellers to prevent people from advertising copies they have made or purchased as "New" or "Rare" and implying that they are original releases, we will not do business with them unless we know the seller and have dealt with them before. You are welcome to try it on your own, but always with the attitude of "buyer be afraid; be very afraid."
Are the movies free once I sign up?
No. Your fee covers our costs in searching for your movie; the cost of the video or DVD is additional, as are shipping costs.
How much is shipping?
Shipping costs will vary, depending upon the source of the video or DVD. We deal with people all over the world, and obviously if we have a choice, we will try to get the best price and best shipping costs for you, but unfortunately, those costs won't be known until the item is located. In most cases, if you're ordering just one item and both you and the seller are located in the continental United States, shipping costs will only add a few dollars to the price. Often the price quoted is post-paid within the U.S. (For example, all movies listed on Free Movies on DVD include shipping costs within the U.S., with a $3 fee for shipping outside the U.S.)
Do you accept PayPal?
Yes! In fact, PayPal is the preferred method of payment for both membership and for movies, since it is instantaneous if you have funds in your account. You can also use a credit card on PayPal if you are not a member, but we recommend that you sign up for it. We will also accept money orders or personal checks, but the latter will slow down the process considerably unless you use a certified check.
I'm a video dealer and have a long want list from my customers. Can you help me?
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to help dealers or large collectors. You may sign up for the program and send us your want list if you like, but because there is a yearly limit of 12 searches and no guarantee that we can find items that you, as a professional, have been unable to find, it might not be workable. In addition, we will not sell to anybody who is planning to make copies and resell a movie, and if we discover that this is the case, the membership will be cancelled without a refund.
I'm looking for posters and other collectibles in addition to movies. Do you search for those?
Not at this time. We may expand to that in the future, but at the present time we're sticking strictly to movies and TV shows on VHS or DVD.
What about PAL format? Or DVDs from other regions?
The problems involved in locating suppliers and shipping overseas are such that we cannot guarantee that we can help, but we will certainly try. If you are located outside the U.S. and Canada and we can find a seller in your area, we will be happy to arrange for PAL format videos to be sent to you. It is also possible to have videos converted from PAL to NTSC, or to modify DVD players to play all regions (in fact, DVD players in Europe, Asia and the Pacific rim all play DVD-Rs DVD+Rs, and all region DVDs), so nothing is impossible! But be sure to let us know if you're located outside the United States.
Can I get any references for your service?
How about some unsolicited testimonials?
